Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Love this time of year when all the garden catalogs start pouring in. I've had great successes (and flops) from plants that I've ordered from mail-order sources. These catalogs provide inspiration and education.

One of my favorite sources is Bluestone Perennials. Their catalog is so full of beautiful choices. Many plants I can't find locally. The plants arrive a bit small, but most double in size quickly. And their prices are very reasonable. You can get 3 of a kind for what others charge for just one plant. I usually study their glossy catalog and then order from their online site: bluestoneperennials.com. The online catalog is also very well done and very user-friendly.

Sometimes I happen upon the same plants at the local nurseries later in the season after receiving and planting my mail-order plants. The local plants may be a bit bigger, but are also more expensive. But with the summer stock at local nurseries not available for many months, these catalog offerings are just too enticing to pass up!

About Me

Contrary to popular belief, some people in the Hamptons don't mind getting their hands dirty. My garden is about 12 years old. Started as a sandy clearing in the woods left after the house was built. First year, I added compost to the sand and threw down some grass seed in the front. Watered with hoses set on timers so watering occurred while in the city during the week. The next year some trees and shrubs were added. A lot of native plants were added at first to blend into the adjacent woods. Over the years, I've thrown in some more colorful non-native shrubs/trees and perennials. I'm not sure my garden fits an established style. It's like a woodland, country garden with a nod towards English styles. There's something exciting almost every month of the year. But maintaining this space is also a lot of work. I only hire out for the truly heavy lifting. But planting and pruning are actually very calming. The end result is a very personal and fulfilling creative expression.